New Oxford fire department transforms into the North Pole

Saturday

Nov 24, 2012 at 8:38 PMNov 24, 2012 at 8:40 PM

United Hook and Ladder Company 33’s Station in New Oxford transformed into the North Pole for Santa’s visit on Saturday afternoon, complete with a large balloon Christmas tree, hot chocolate and Christmas music.

Santa Claus and his wife Mrs. Claus have been visiting New Oxford, near Gettysburg, every Saturday after Thanksgiving for 18 years. But before Santa arrived to the station, he took a 27-mile drive on top of a fire truck to New Oxford and Abbottstown to remind locals of his visit Saturday.

The free annual event is hosted by the Light family, in memory of their parents, Barbara Harman, one of the six Light siblings, said. The family’s parents always enjoyed Christmas, Harman said. The siblings wanted to keep the spirit alive and share it with the community.

Harman said the family doesn’t host the event to raise money, but rather just bring some holiday spirit to locals.

In addition to the fire station providing the space for the event, they Light family receives many donations items for the event from local businesses each year, including foods Rice Fruit Company and Cross Keys Diner.

“We’ll continue to do it until someone tells us to stop,“ Harman said.